If you check the archives of this website I think you'll find that I tend to disappear when the college hoops conference tourneys heat up and boil over into March Madness. I won't bore you with my take on the these contests because the last thing you're going to need over the next few weeks is any more bloviating about basketball.

Just as I was feeling guilty about playing hooky, I got a note from Charlie Ray reminding me about his new blog, Pre-Dawn Ramblings. I took a look and nestled among Charlie's unique views was a mention of another old friend, musician Chris Smither. So while keeping one eye on Michigan State open up a lead on Ohio State, I began snooping around the web to catch up on Chris. If you know him, you don't need me to summarize his decades of brilliant work. If you're unfamiliar with his work, you are in for an overdue revelation. Unless of course you're a punk like Dennis Perrin. If that's the case, I hope this annoys you, but only  because that's what punks like, right?

Anyway, here's Chris playing live for an hour or so on NPR.


Chris takes a spin down Desolation Row




Chris sings Waiting for a train and discusses  how the internet and digital recording have improved the lot of rootsy rebels, such as his ownself.




Here's Diana Krall covering a Smither Classic:




Hoops on the tube, Smither on the tunes and a couple of pups lounging at my feet as winter melts away into spring. I've had worse days!